Building bottoms brainstorm

[John F]

Sort of half-baked idea here and was wondering what others thought.

I have some 2x4 scraps laying around. Thought I would turn them into something. Soo...

goals:

Medium 8 frame hive bottoms
no bottom entrance necessary
ventilated

The basic idea is a frame made of the 2x4s with a rabbet along the top such that the top of this bottom matches the bottom of the box on top. smile.gif

From here I could:

. make the depth of this rabbet 1/4 inch(ish) for bee space, staple #8 hardware cloth and call it done.

. rip slats from the edge of the 2x4s, make the rabbet deep enough that there is 1/4 inch(ish) above for bee space, staple #8, top with slats, call it done.

. variation of the above only make another rabbet stepped down such that there is space between the #8 and slats.

. Any of the above and add a dado so that I can slide in some politician's sign (In my area I will also include "Rent to own" signs that litter every corner) so that I can close it off in the winter.

For simplicity I like the frame with #8 idea. I don't know if slats are important. I also don't know if I have to close it off in the winter.

Thanks!

[MichaelW]

Just in case you hadn't seen my 2X4 design.
http://web.utk.edu/~wu4you/ACBeekeepers/equipment.htm

[John F]

Hey MichaelW,

Yep, saw them, and thanks for adding the link here. Your design was sort of the inspiration I think. That and seeing the pile of 2x4 scrap.

I won't have a landing board so my front will be like my back which will be like the back of yours.

Cutting the back piece as you have actually leaves enough material for 4 - 1/8 inch slats (or 2 - 1/4 inch slats) so I thought maybe slats were a good idea. I know Michael Bush staples #8 to the bottom of slatted racks for bottoms and figured that he either had some slatted racks that he wanted to make into bottoms or that slats are important for something.

I have no idea if there needs to be room between the slats and the screen.

I guess though that you are answering the question of whether just screen is a good enough bottom for bees since you've apparently done it and are still suggesting it.

[ May 04, 2006, 02:53 PM: Message edited by: John F ]

[MichaelW]

Oh yea, just screen is fine. Lots of people run screen bottoms year round. I stuck my mite boards in this winter for a few months because I moved them to a more windy location. You do want the bee space between the bottom hive box and the screen.

I just don't get the slatted bottom thing, but thats just me. My equipment gets barely built, or I barely afford to barely buy it and stick it in the apiary just in time or a little too late, so any extra equipment, or construction steps are out. Unless I can clearly understand a significant reason. I still need to put tin on all my tops, and cut holes for feeder jars. They are all on the hives already so I'll have to do a few, trade them out, then do a few more.

I'm using top entrances too, but I think I will stick with the option of having a traditional bottom entrance. I just cut strips of wood for entrance reducers and fliped them to the closed side. I don't really know exactly why I'm doing this, but I like to leave my options open. One thing I'm thinking is if many dead bees build up on the bottom, I can open the entrance and let them clean it out. Cutting the front like the back, however would reduce the need to daddo, if this matters.

This spring I ran out of time and bought bottoms, but hope to build alot this winter.
I too have a nice pile of scrap 2X4s. I would feel OK sitting such a heavy duty bottom on the ground for a while in a pinch.

[Michael Bush]

>. make the depth of this rabbet 1/4 inch(ish) for bee space, staple #8 hardware cloth and call it done.

I'd go for 3/4". 1/4" to 3/8" is side end or top beespace. 1/4" to 3/4" is bottom beespace.

>I know Michael Bush staples #8 to the bottom of slatted racks for bottoms and figured that he either had some slatted racks that he wanted to make into bottoms or that slats are important for something.

Search on "slatted rack". They are useful. Not important.